Thinking Healthcare Careers might be the way to go?
- Think you might be interested in healthcare careers?
- Or maybe you’re not but you’re here anyway just to check things out.
Either way it’s a smart idea to learn more about healthcare careers and here’s why…
Healthcare is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States; approximately 15 million people in more than 200 healthcare careers, and those numbers are growing. Every day. Chalk it up to the explosion of technology in healthcare, as well as an unprecedented aging population; people want (and deserve) good health. Both are wonderful things.
So whether you have a burning passion to work in healthcare (in some way, shape or form) or have other interests and strengths but want to get involved in an industry that needs people with skills and smarts (whether they’re common sense, technical, academic or emotional)… the Healthcare Industry could be a great career direction for you.
But how do you decide, really truly in your heart decide, if this might be the right direction for you?
Well, it’s time for you to learn about the Health Sciences Career Cluster and the different “pathways” within it that need people with a diverse set of skills, interests and strengths.
PEOPLE LIKE YOU.
Health Sciences is an industry that promotes the health and wellness of people in so many ways it’s pretty much impossible to imagine them all. Some involve working directly with people in therapeutic or diagnostic services, while others involve research into disease, collecting and organizing data and information, as well as an amazing number of support services.
And the work environment isn’t just hospitals and medical offices. People in healthcare work in research labs, cruise ships, ambulances, sports arenas, education, the military, and even within the community. So even if you aren’t interested in working hands-on with patients, keep in mind that there are still a crazy number of other options available to you.
So what are those options? That’s where the Career Pathways come in.
Biotechnology Research & Development
Bioscience research and development as it’s related to human health; whether it’s studying diseases to discover new treatment or inventing new medical devices and tools.
Diagnostic Services
Professionals in this pathway use tests and evaluations to detect, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries and other physical conditions.
Health Informatics
The business side of healthcare; from managing health care agencies to managing patient data and information, financial information, and computer applications. There’s little, if any, interaction with patients in these careers.
Support Services
This pathway encompasses a wide variety of careers that support patients, other healthcare providers, and/or the community.
Therapeutic Services
This is the pathway most of us think of when we think of when it comes to healthcare; working directly with patients whether it’s via direct care, treatment, counseling and health education.
Even though these are just brief descriptions about the different career pathways in Health Sciences, this information should help you to narrow down a pathway that might make sense for you.
If not, no worries… check them all out. Then take a look at the the 100+ different specific healthcare careers listed below. Most have links to get more information about a particular career; a detailed description, education requirements and salary expectations at the very least.
Despite there being over 100 healthcare careers listed within the tabs below, this is actually just a small representation of what’s available. Here goes…
- Biomedical Equipment Technician
- Biomedical Laboratory Practice
- Biostatistician
- Blood Bank Technologist
- Clinical Data Manager
- Clinical Lab Technologist
- Compliance Manager
- Cytotechnologist
- Epidemiologist
- Forensic Biologist
- Forensic Chemist
- Forensic Toxicologist
- Histotechnologist
- Industrial Hygienist
- Medical Laboratory Scientist/Technician
- Opthalmic Lab Technician
- Orthotist/Prosthetist
- Phlebotomist
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- Research Scientist
- Technical Writer
- Audiologist
- Cardiovascular Technologist
- Diagnostic Medical Scientist
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
- Exercise Physiologist
- Histotechnologist
- MRI Technologist
- Neurodiagnostic Technician
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Ophthalmic Medical Technician
- Pathologist
- Phlebotomist
- Polysomnographic (Sleep) Technologist
- Radiologic Technologist
- Thermography Technician
- Health Information Manager
- Health Information Technician
- Health Science Librarian
- Healthcare Administrator
- Healthcare Documentation Specialist
- Informatician
- Medical Coder
- Medical Interpreter
- Medical Librarian
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Secretary
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Ambulance Driver and Attendant
- Anesthesiologist Assistant
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
- Community Health Educator
- Community Health Worker
- Counselor
- Dental Laboratory Technician
- Dietetic Technician
- Dietitian Nutritionist
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher
- Environmental Health Advocate
- Genetic Counselor
- Health Administrator
- Health Educator
- Human Services Worker
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Medical Animator or Illustrator
- Medical Appliance Technician
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Equipment Preparer
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor
- Nurse Educator
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nutrition and Dietetic Technician
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist
- Occupational Health Nurse
- Optician
- Perfusionist
- Personal Care Provider
- Pharmacist
- Pharmacy Technician
- Public Health Practice and Program Management
- Social Worker
- Surgical Technologist
- Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Acupuncturist
- Anesthesiology Assistant
- Animal Behaviorist
- Art Therapist
- Athletic Trainer
- Chiropractor
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dentist
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic
- Home Health Aide
- Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurse (LPN and LVN)
- Massage Therapist
- Naturopathic Physician
- Nurse Anesthetist
- Nurse Midwife
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurses Aide, Orderly
- Occupational Therapist
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Opthalmic Medical Technician
- Optometrist
- Orientation and Mobility Specialist
- Orthopedic Technician
- Pathologist Assistant
- Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Physician Assistant
- Psychiatric Nurse
- Recreation Therapist
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Respiratory Therapist
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Speech Language Pathology Assistant
- Veterinarian
- Veterinary Technician
It might seem like there’s a lot of information to absorb in this post, and there is. But in all honesty, it’s just the tip of the iceberg if you think you might want to shoot for a career in healthcare.
If you skimmed through the careers and checked out some of the links you’ll have noticed that careers in the healthcare industry need people with every imaginable skill set, not just an interest in health, wellness and the human body.
That being said, if you’re looking for more information to dig deeper (which you’ll likely need to do) then check out the following sites. You won’t be sorry….